Remote Microsoft Hyper-V

Quality Approver supports an automated package testing on virtual machines, hosted on a remote Microsoft Hyper-V server.


PREREQUISITES:

  • Windows Server 2012 R2 or newer with the Hyper-V role.

  • Windows Server user has administrative privileges.

  • Virtual machine is running Windows 10 version 1803 or newer.

  • The user account on the virtual machine has the administrative privileges.

  • Virtual machine and your work station (PC) are located in the same network.

    By default, Hyper-V virtual machines have access to the physical network. Check that your Virtual Network Switch on Hyper-V server is configured to the External connection type. For details, see Create a virtual switch for Hyper-V virtual machines.

  • Incoming WMI traffic on Hyper-V server is allowed.

    Only if you are using a third party firewall, allow the incoming WMI traffic. Quality Approver uses Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to manage the remote virtual machine (turn on/off, restore to checkpoint, etc.).


CONFIGURATION INSTRUCTIONS:

To configure the virtual machine for testing with Quality Approver perform the following:

  1. Run Quality Approver from the Tools tab of PACE Suite Launcher (or from the Start Menu shortcut).

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  2. Click Configure new VM.

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  3. In the opened wizard select Remote Microsoft Hyper-V and follow the listed instructions.

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PREREQUISITES AND CONFIGURATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR VIRTUAL MACHINE:

  • (1 of 5) Check Windows OS version.

    The supported operating system of the virtual machine is Windows 10 version 1803 or newer. To check a version of your Windows, run winver command (Win + R).

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    Note

    It is recommended to use a clean Windows OS with a minimum set of preinstalled software in order to minimize the negative impact on testing results.

  • (2 of 5) Install the testing kit.

    On the virtual machine download the Windows SDK installer (web installer ~1.3 MB) and install two required components:

    • Application Verifier For Windows (size ~5.4 MB)

    • Windows App Certification Kit (size ~47.4 MB)

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  • (3 of 5) Run the automatic system configurator

    Copy the PACE Tuner for Quality Approver installer to the virtual machine and run it there to configure the system for the automatic package testing and to install the required files.

    Get PACE Tuner for Quality Approver clicking on the ‘PACE tuner’ link.

    quality-approver-configure-hyperv-1-pacetuner By default, it is located at C:\Program Files (x86)\PACE Suite\Quality Approver\Tuner installation\PACE Tuner for Quality Approver.msi

    Warning

    PACE Tuner changes the security features of the operating system and must not be run on your work station (PC). The uninstall mechanism of PACE Tuner does not restore the changed security settings. Run PACE Tuner only on the virtual machine, which can be restored to the previous state.

    Find the list what PACE Tuner changes below in this article.

  • (4 of 5) Shut down the virtual machine

    Shut down the operating system of the virtual machine (Start > Power > Shut down).

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  • (5 of 5) Create a checkpoint of the configured virtual machine

    Create a checkpoint of the current state of the virtual machine. Further, the virtual machine will be automatically restored to this checkpoint before and after testing process. For more details, see Work with Checkpoints.

  1. Switch back to the Quality Approver wizard on your work station (PC) and tick the I have configured as requested checkbox. Then click Next.

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  2. Specify the address, user name and password to connect to the Microsoft Hyper-V server. Then click Next.

    Note that the entered password will be encrypted with the auto-generated personal key.

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  3. Using Browse… first select the configured virtual machine from the list, then select the previously created checkpoint of the configured state. Afterward, specify a user name and password to login into the operating system of the virtual machine and click Next.

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  4. Wait a little, while Quality Approver is checking the connection and configuration of the virtual machine. Once the check is completed, click OK and Finish to close the wizard.

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    Now the virtual machine on Microsoft Hyper-V server is configured for testing with Quality Approver.



LIST OF CHANGES MADE ON VIRTUAL MACHINE BY PACE TUNER:

  • Enables Developer mode.

    Windows App Certification Kit requires enabling this system feature.

  • Enables automatic login in Windows.

    Windows App Certification Kit requires a UI session for the testing. Automatic login secures this UI session.

  • Enables Windows Firewall exception.

    Quality Approver runs and controls the package testing process on the Hyper-V virtual machine remotely over the network and requires the following firewall exceptions to be enabled:

    • Allows ICMP echo requests and opens 445 port.

      Used for transferring package sources to the remote virtual machine with the use of the Administrative Share (like \\computername\C$).

      NOTE If you are using a third party firewall on the virtual machine, ensure that ICMP echo requests are allowed and 445 port is opened.

    • Allows incoming WMI traffic.

      Used to start and control the process of package testing remotely.

      NOTE If you are using a third party firewall on the virtual machine, ensure that incoming WMI traffic is allowed.

  • Disables User Account Control.

    Windows App Certification Kit requires the administrative privileges for running. Disabling the User Account Control (UAC) allows to run Windows App Certification Kit with the administrative privileges remotely in an unattended mode.

  • Disables User Account Control (UAC) remote restrictions

    For transferring package to the remote virtual machine with the use of the Administrative Share (like \\computername\C$), it is not enough to add firewall exceptions such as Allow ICMP echo requests and open 445 port, but also it is needed to disable UAC remote restrictions. For details, see Description of User Account Control and remote restrictions online article.

  • Disables non-essential services.

    Update, Search, Offline files, Security center, and Diagnostic policy services produce lots of system noise that could influence the testing results.

  • Installs PACE broker service

    PACE broker service serves communication between Quality Approver and the virtual machine.



Note

PACE Suite covers the whole range of application packaging tasks - learn more.

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